COURT SENTENCES FIVE FOR TERROR RELATED CRIMES

C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 000700

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PTER PHUM PGOV PREL ASEC CASC MR
SUBJECT: COURT SENTENCES FIVE FOR TERROR RELATED CRIMES

REF: NOUAKCHOTT 592

Classified By: CDA Steven Koutsis for Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d)


1. (U) The trial of the remaining 14 detainees accused of
belonging to "Al Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb,"
formerly the Groupe Salafist pour la Predication et le
Combat(GSPC) (reftel),concluded on July 31 with five
convictions and nine acquittals.


2. (U) The Criminal Court condemned Sid Taher Ould Mohamed
Abdel Jelil Ould Biye to five years in prison for
collaboration with the GSPC in the June 2005 Limgheity attack
(el-Mreiti). Teyab Ould Saleck and Ely Cheikh Ould Khoumane
were sentenced to three years in prison for participating in
the Limgheity attack. Moustapha Ould Abdel Kader and Mohamed
Lemine Ould Jdoud were given parole with two years probation
for forgery. The other nine defendants were acquitted.


3. (U) Defense lawyers maintain that the parole sentences are
"harsh for those (two) who have been convicted (for forgery)
given that the main points of accusation were rejected," but
have expressed satisfaction that the sentences enacted veered
significantly from the prosecution's call for the death
penalty.


4. (U) Just one day after the sentences were announced, the
Prosecution filed an appeal, claiming that the sentences were
too "mild" and not commensurate with the facts or gravity of
the case. The defense has also indicated plans to appeal the
verdict.


5. (SBU) Public reaction has been muted so far as the verdict
is seen as further demonstration of the newly-found
separation between the judicial system and the executive
branch of the government. Post is not aware of any
demonstrations or calls for demonstrations by groups opposed
to the verdicts. We will continue to monitor the situation.


6. (C) Comment: The results are disappointing given the
nature of the accusations, but the conviction of three for
terrorism charges and two others of terrorist-related
activities does strengthen the government's argument that the
detainees were more than political prisoners. The main
reason for the light sentences is that the 14 were arrested
in a totalitarian system that relied on executive branch
support rather than hard evidence to make convictions. The
authorities who made the arrests did not supply the
prosecution with sufficient evidence, and as a result the
case was not properly prepared for a trial carried out
according to the rule of law. Partners need to look for ways
to enhance police and state legal capacity. End Comment.
Koutsis